7 tagged articles prefab log cabins

Spring is almost upon us, as is the planting season. Instead of waiting until the last minute, take the fate of your garden into your own hands this year! Right now is the time to prepare your log cabin for the upcoming growing season. To help you out, here are the top 5 things to avoid when getting things ready around your log cabin garden.

# 1. Avoid Working the Soil too soonWorking the soil too early is one of the easiest mistakes to make when prepping your log cabin (more information here). If the dirt is still too wet, plants will find it difficult to grow because the soil is compacted. Luckily, the fix is extremely easy. Simply make sure the soil is dry enough! Grab a fist full of soil in your hand, around half a cup if counting. Now, pretend like the dirt is snow and squeeze it together to form a ball. Take your little piece of log cabin earth and drop it from your waist. If it breaks into loose soil, congratulations! If you don't want to mess up your sidewalk, take your fingers and press on the ball until it falls apart. Spheres that break into solid clumps mean the earth is still too wet to work.# 2. Avoid Overworking the SoilThe key to working the soil is to avoid overworking the soil. If preparing a raised bed, all that is needed are a couple of turn of a pitchfork. You want to avoid rototilling or double digging in a log cabin garden such as this. Furthermore, the greater amount of organic material on the plot the less working the earth will need. If breaking up the soil too much is a concern, try adding compost. It raises the bed, creates healthier ecosystems, and adds essential nutrients. Not only that, but it decreases food and organic waste being tossed into our landfills.# 3. Avoid Adding Nutrients to the Soil Without Testing FirstIt is important to test your log cabin's soil each year to ensure the healthiest veggies, fruits, and flowers. This is the most accurate way of determining which nutrients your soil needs. Without testing, adding fertilizers becomes a guessing game. This is not good for your plants or the earth. Changing the soil pH willy nilly can also mess up the composition for years to come. However, if you never test your log cabin garden dirt you will never know!#4. Avoid Synthetic FertilizersAlthough readily available, synthetic fertilizers should be avoided. Even if you don't consider yourself an environmentally conscious person, the use of chemicals in your garden can be unhealthy for you as well. Not to mention organic fertilizers are extremely easy and cheap to make and buy. In fact, there are 3 incredibly awesome natural ways to add nutrients back to the earth beneath your log cabin. First, throw away any pre-formed opinions about compost. It does not have to be smelly or gross, and it is extremely nutrient dense. Second, use grass clippings from lawns without herbicides. You can either mix these straight into the soil or place them on top like mulch. Grass clippings also work to help the dirt store water and slow the growth of weeds. Composted leaves from the fall do the same. The final organic compound for use in your log cabin garden is mulch. Mulch is the most widely available of the three for purchase, so there is little work required. # 5. Avoid Spring Cleaning ProcrastinationAs mentioned earlier, now is the time to begin preparing your log cabin for the planting season. A large and largely overlooked part of this process is spring-cleaning. Wash and organize all of the garden tools that have been waiting all winter to see you! Make note of everything needing to be replaced, and purchase it as soon as possible. In terms of the log cabin garden itself, go ahead and remove any dead plant material on top of the area.

Prepare Your Log Cabin Garden and Enjoy!These 5 things to avoid will save time, money, and heartache. Although it can seem like a daunting task, getting your log cabin garden ready for growing season will save you the stress of playing catch-up. Once it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, you will be glad you did!

CommentDon't forget that insults, racism, etc. are forbidden by Skyrock's 'General Terms of Use' and that you can be identified by your IP address (54.80.1.73) if someone makes a complaint.

If you are considering purchasing or building a log cabin, you may want to know more about how wood handles the weather. I don't blame you. There are a lot of myths out there about log cabins. Unfortunately, that fake information often scares people away from what is a great home choice. In this article, I am going to tell you the truth. Here are the10 things you need to know about log cabins in the warm and cool seasons.

Things to Know in the Warm Seasons

1. A Full Log Home Has Only its Natural Insulation – Just because there has been no insulation added, doesn't mean the home is not weather resistant. Many people believe log cabins get extremely hot in the summertime, resulting in a higher electric bill. Luckily, they are wrong. The fact is, a well-built log cabin home offers more insulation than conventional homes.

2. Energy Efficient – If you have never lived in a log cabin, or have only lived in older log cabins (more information here), you may still believe the outdated lie that they are not energy efficient. While it may be true older and poorly constructed log homes are not energy efficient, newer and properly caulked homes can be energy efficient homes. However, you must have properly fitted heating and air to reap the benefits.

3. Air Leaks are Easy to Fix – Over time, certain types of logs do shrink, causing the leakage of air. However, air leaks are the easiest fix in a log cabin. If you find an air leak by accident or during an inspection, simply spray in some expandable foam insulation. You can find this stuff at any store that services contractors, including your local home improvement store!

4. No Termites Allowed – Although it goes against common sense, log cabins do not attract termites. Turns out, these wood-destroying pests are not attracted to a large area of dense wood. They prefer to munch in areas with less wood, and less dense wood.

5. Maintenance is Necessary – Yes, maintenance is necessary. However, maintenance is a necessary part of owning any type of home. The easiest way to ensure your log cabin performs well in all seasons is to keep to a regular maintenance schedule the way you would your car.

Things to Know in the Cold Seasons

1. Logs are Natural Sound Barriers – For those of you that do not know, logs are actually natural sound barriers. That's why people plant trees between their homes and busy roads. When the weather turns colder, chances are you will start hearing more noises. If you live in town, there may be increased traffic by your house during the school year. If you live in a populated place that receives snow, you might have to listen to the obnoxious noise of the plows. If you live in the forest, chances are you begin to hear gunshots from hunters this time of the year. A log cabin can take of those 3 things and so much more.

2. Logs are Naturally Fire Resistant – Many people think a house made of solid wood will burn faster than your typical home. However, that is false! When a fire starts in a conventional home, it quickly forms a chimney and radiates out. When a fire starts in a log cabin, it takes a long time for the wood to catch. In fact, the wood would be the absolute last thing to burn in a fire. If you don't believe me, try to start a fire using only your lighter and a huge log. It would take a long while if it were even possible.

3. There are Many Ways to Heat a Log Cabin – You don't have to use conventional heat if you don't want to. Lately, solar panels are gaining popularity with the cabin crowd. Some people like the idea of sticking to a true log home experience, and use a wood-burning stove.

4. Low Heating Bills – As I mentioned earlier, log cabins are energy efficient homes that offer natural insulating properties. This means your bills will be lower in the winter, because you are using the heat less.

5. Most of Your Heat Loss is Through 2 Places – These two places are the floor and the roof. If you insulate under the cabin and the roof, you will notice a temperature difference.

CommentDon't forget that insults, racism, etc. are forbidden by Skyrock's 'General Terms of Use' and that you can be identified by your IP address (54.80.1.73) if someone makes a complaint.

Prefab log cabins look nice, there is no doubt about that. However, the question is how they perform in the winter. Whether you currently own a prefab log cabin, or you are considering one, you must read this list. If you want to find out 6 of the most important things to know about prefab log cabins in the winter, stay tuned!

#1. Prefab Log Cabins Boast Low Energy Usage

Although wood is not a natural insulator, chances are your prefab log cabin boasts the appropriate insulation to keep your energy bill down. If not, or if your cabin hasn't been kept up, you should make a quick sweep of your home to identify any holes in the caulking. When your home's insulation is up to snuff, you will save money on your heating bill. In fact, with energy efficient heating and air conditioning you prefab log cabin can reduce your bills by up to 20%. If you use a wood stove and have your own fuel supply, you can save even more money. In addition, wood is considered green. Although insulation material is not, the size of your carbon footprint is much lower in a cabin than in other types of homes.

#2. Pefab Cabins are Good for Your Health

Since your prefab log cabin is energy efficient, you are breathing in less air from the outside. Depending on where you live, the decrease in pollution from the outside could mean a big difference. If you have season allergies caused by anything outside, consider purchasing or re-sealing your prefab cabin for better breathing. In the cast of dust allergies, log cabins can be extremely helpful in reducing symptoms. Log cabins are quite easy to clean, and what you see is what you get. You can literally view the quality of your walls for any potential mold or other damaging bacteria. Additionally, there is typically no carpet to collect mites or pet dander!

#3. Pefab Log Cabins Have the Potential to be Dark

One little thought of aspect about prefab cabins is the amount of lighting built into the home. Most log cabins end up being quite dark, especially in the winter months when the days are shorter. If you can choose your home design, try to include as many windows as possible. Since more windows typically mean more drafts, also make sure to purchase Energy Star windows made for your region. If you already own a home that gets too dark for your liking in the winter, don't fear! There are many ways to brighten up your dark days.

Here are a few:

Paint Your Wooden Interior – This step is for the adventurousWhitewash Your Walls – Not for the faint of heart, but the end result is niceAdd Some Insulation – It isn't difficult to put up a paintable wallPaint Your Furniture – A potentially fun project for a cold winter's dayBuy New Furniture – There are many bright colors availableHang Mirrors – Mirrors not only reflect light to make a room brighter, they also make the room look biggerStrategically Place a Few Accessories – Whether purchased or diy, some colorful accessories can provide the pop of color your prefab log cabin needs

#4. There Will Be Silence

If you want a home that will cancel out any winter sounds, look no further than a prefab log cabin. Logs are natural sound barriers, so they insulate the inside of your home from any unpleasant outside sounds. This can be nice if you live in an area with a lot of construction, snow plowing, traffic, or schools. For a quiet, peaceful winter, prefab homes may be what you are looking for!

#5. They are Incredibly Beautiful

No one looks at a log cabin and thinks it is ugly. This goes double in the winter! Who can resist the look of soft white snow on dark, sleek wood? Don't be surprised if people slow down or even take pictures as they drive by your home! If you live out in the woods, be sure to enjoy the beautiful contrast of evergreen, snow, sky, and your prefab log cabin.

CommentDon't forget that insults, racism, etc. are forbidden by Skyrock's 'General Terms of Use' and that you can be identified by your IP address (54.80.1.73) if someone makes a complaint.

Your log cabin is your palace and you want every part of it to be a comfort and joy for your family. Which is why setting up an area for everyone to love is a critical part of planning the decor and function of your new home.

For children there is nothing quite like having a place to play that is just for them. This could be their bedroom, a family room, a playroom or even just an area designated as their own in a place where other people congregate, such as the living room.Here are some awesome ideas for a log cabin friendly children's area where your kids can get as much out of your house as you do.Really Utilize Wall StorageLog cabins are expensive, though most people look at them as an investment. However, that also means they have to go for smaller options for their home, leaving them with less space for a children's room.This is a great idea that shows how you can use wall space and storage in order to give your kids more play area without taking up a bunch of room.A Log Cabin In a Log CabinWhy should you be the only one with a log cabin (more information here)? If space isn't a problem you could recreate this incredible playroom that features log cabins for your children to play in. Not only is it an adorable idea but it costs much less than you think. These playhouses are common sale items around the holidays in particular.

Build Around a ThemeSpeaking of which, you can choose any theme you like and then build the decor and play area around it. This is a cute idea that features teepees and even a little decorative campfire. You could go for any theme your child is especially fond of, though keep in mind that their changing tastes may mean it is easier to keep to a more general idea.DIY Something CreativeThere are so many DIY projects out there and some of them are a little less understandable than others. This is an ambitious one but really cool and appropriate for kids of various ages. Use an old table to create a Lego workspace that your children will absolutely love. It is such a functional project and easier than it looks to accomplish.Let Them Draw On The WallsEvery parent has felt a plummeting of their heart into their stomach when they walk into a room and see scribbles all over the walls. Who among us doesn't know the toothpaste trick? Or hasn't been forced to paint over stubborn marker? Instead of trying to cover the evidence, how about giving them a wall chalk or dry erase board where they can do it without fear?

Designate Some Free SpaceMaybe you really, really don't have room for much in your home. That's OK, kids don't actually need a lot. This creative family set aside some play space by putting up a mini fence where they could keep things contained and their children could enjoy themselves without worry about disturbing mom and dad. You could do this with any room of any size, especially for younger kiddos.Encourage Imagination Through Costume PlayHave children that adore playing dress up and pretend? Encourage it by making a costume wall that holds all of their favorites in one place. This is perfect for those who don't have a room to dedicate to play time and instead want a smaller area where their little ones can take advantage of their imagination the most. Best of all, the costumes fit right there on the little hooks, no floor space needed for toys! You could even fit this in their bedroom.Think MultipurposeWant somewhere that the kids can play, have sleepovers and playdates, watch movies and just relax? A multipurpose room may be just the thing your family needs. Remember that half of design is function and this is a very functional example of a great space that any kid would adore. It also means you won't have kids running all over your home and instead they will stick to a smaller area.

CommentDon't forget that insults, racism, etc. are forbidden by Skyrock's 'General Terms of Use' and that you can be identified by your IP address (54.80.1.73) if someone makes a complaint.

A log cabin brings a certain image to mind and that is of heavy browns, deep colors and traditional designs. But what if your idea of the perfect aesthetic is lighter, brighter and more easy going than that?

Pastels are a very specific style choice that appeals to a certain type more than most. You may think thanks to dozens of magazines claiming over the years that they can't be used effectively in design. That is wrong, however and we have some great examples of pastel kitchens that are gorgeous, fun and an alternative to heavier tones.

Use the Pastels to Create a Retro Look

Pastels really do bring to mind an earlier time, especially around the 50's and 60's when soft color schemes were all the rage in everything from home design to car exteriors. Now we have an opportunity to draw from that and create a vintage look, using both pastel colors and old looking appliances and items.

Swap Pastels For The Usual Neutrals We Used To See

Neutrals have really fallen out of favor and it isn't a shock. Beiges and off whites are easy on the eyes but tend to look drab and boring. Pastels brings a bit of lightness to a room and have a similar impact as neutrals, only without the blah. You get the best of both worlds: colors that aren't overwhelming to the eyes.

Get Quirky With the New Look

This one is interesting because it genuinely looks as though it came out of a children's TV show. It is a quaint, fun and quirky look. Pastels work well for creating this effect thanks to the nature of the colors. It is harder to get the same look with fuller colors because they are too heavy handed for log cabins.

Mix and Match

One benefit of pastels is that they all mix well together. When you have bolder colors they can easily clash and overwhelm the room. Pastels are soft enough that it doesn't matter which ones are used, they all compliment one another. So you can choose any combination and mix and match pieces.

Create a Kitchen Your Inner Child Would Love

What would your child self like in a log cabin (more information here) kitchen? Other than an automatic pizza and sundae maker, that is. Catering to a childlike idea of design is a great idea if you want something that feels mystical and magical. Put in a string of fairy lights, hang up some teacups and stick to pinks, blues and purples.

Keep It Simple

You don't have to use pastels in the decorating on the counters. It can be placed in less obvious places and used to change the overall look of the room. For instance, you can use pastels in the wood making up the cabinets, or built into the patterns in the floor.

Use Pastels as Enhancements

Pastels can also be used as enhancements, through accessories or small details in your log cabin design. This is a good middle ground if you balk at the idea of a kitchen entirely dominated by soft colors, or if you want to perk up a more neutral color with something more interesting.

Rely on Accessories

Speaking of accessories, they are the best way to get a pastel kitchen without doing major renovations. Not everyone has the money, time or energy to paint their cabinets, install new countertops or buy new, cutesy appliances. But getting some accessories in the right colors are a fraction of the cost and time sink.

Consider Your Color Options

One of the great things about pastels is that they are soft enough to mute even the harshest colors. Let's say you love orange but know that making an entire log cabin kitchen that color will be too garish. You can use pastel oranges, reds and yellows and it will work just fine. You have the entire color spectrum to choose from.

Combine Pastels With Darker Hues

Pastels can also be paired with their darker, bolder counterparts to create an awesome effect. Dark blue and pastel blue, red and pastel pink, white and pastel grey, purple and pastel lilac...these are all examples of potential combinations that are honestly endless. You just have to find the right pair for your design.